The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-08-24
is KNoWNoTHINGIsM TO COME
AGAIN?

Rev, Edmund, ex.priest McGlynn, in the
August North American Review, has an
article in which he seeks to demonstrate
that while the KnownothiDgism of gem
Grafton ago was the result of Authorizations
or something fer worse, causes now exist
for alarm, and that in various ways and
degrees there is danger that American
ideas of government, American institu-
tons and even the American language
will disappear, because of the vast emigra-
ton from Europe and the influence ex-
erted by the Roman Catholic Church.
We are having Eow-a-days descriptions
of a variety of dangers, which are said to
threaten the stability of American institu-
tons. At one time it is wealth and the
luxury born of wealth, and we are treated to
brilliant dissertations on the decline and
fall Of Rome. Again, monopoly is to get
the upper hand, and reduce all the 'icom-
mon" people to slaves. Then we are told
that anarchists aud socialists arm I'D with
dynamite, are to revolutlonlze things aud
produce chaos. We could state several other
dangers that from time to time are brought
to the front and made to do duty as storm
signals, and ex.priest McGlynn seems to
have been a close student of these dark
shadows cast athwart the nations plth-
way by coming events.
The beauty of the American system of
government, in one very important partic-
ular is, that the government doesn't care
fig what man worships, or how he wor-
ships, or whether he worships at all. The
government as such, is totally divorced
from all churches. Here all sects aud
creeds are alike free and unfettered. Bob
Ingersolf makes money by denying God,
deriding Jesus Christ aud treating the Bible
with ribald derision. Another goes about
winning converts to Mormonism holding
old Joe Smith up as prophet who received
revelations direct from HEAVIER Catholics
believe in the Pope and Protestaots deny
his authority and sects multiply and cross
each other track In a thousand ways and at
all imaginable angles-but the Government
is neither interested nor alarmed. II pays
out no money, it takes out no choice.
1t has no power to restrain men, nor to tax
men on account of religious belief. This
p oIicy, instead of being dangerous is the
only safe course to be pursued. The gov
eminent does ret care what titles religion.
lists bestow upon those who are selected 10
manage church affairs. Preacher, Priest,
Bishop, Archbishop, Pope, any thing that
suits their fancy, is all the same to the
government, bat mind, no sect must
attempt to abridge the rights OF any other
sect, no sect must lay hands upon any
right of the citizen. In the war of doemss,
clash OF creeds,ihe government takss no
part, no stock, no interest. The law upholds
all, the courts are OF 81 to al, the schools are
open alike to them all. And IL that sort of
a government can't stand any amount of
rostrum and pulpit racket, the tirae is draw
ing very near when it will be in order for
Gabriel to blow his trumpet.
As for emigration, all alarm on that SUBJ
ject is the sheezest fispdoodle. 1t is now as
it was in the days Uf knownothingism-a
foolish and false alarm. The great ma
jority Of emigrsnts seeking homes in Amer
lea, come to better their condition, and are
quite as much in earnest upon the subject
as native Americans. They buy land, build
houses, cultivate FARMS work in shops and
become, in oil regards, good citizens. In
thousands of instances they come with
money, with intelligence; they come with
children, and they are prolific in the family
way and add wealth to the country. Occa-
sionally q crank is found who opposes
teaching and speaking a foreign language.
in America. They would have a German,
for instance, abandon his mother tongue,
as soon as he lands because, forsooth, as the
crank believes, there are in foreign LAM
guages no words to express 'life, liberty
and the pursuit Of happiness" 1t is not
worth while to discuss such fanatical isno-
rance and prejudice. DR.. McGlynn is mis-
! taken. Knowncthingism cannot be re-
| vived. The Democratic party killed it
when IL FIRST reared its head in the United
States, aud STANDS pledged TO crush ii again
should the devilish thing seek TO make
trouble. There Is room enough in the
United States for SOC, oOo, 900 people; room
enough north of the United States for 300.
coo, 600 people, and room enough south Of
the United States for 800, 900, coo more. The
United States accepts emigrants from the
Old World related to the parent stock-not
paupers, not criminals-but honest men,
their wives and children. There Is trans
forming pow or and influence In the Amer.
lcan government and institutions which
! make sood citizens Of the smigrants, as the